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Swanson won't sue to stop health care reform

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson
has rejected a request from Gov. Tim Pawlenty to sue over the new
federal health care law.

Instead, Swanson said Monday she will file a friend-of-the-court
brief supporting the federal government in a lawsuit filed by 13
state attorneys general.

The Democratic attorney general sent the Republican governor a
letter saying a lawsuit isn't warranted because health care fits
squarely within the federal government's authority to regulate
interstate commerce.

Pawlenty had asked Swanson to challenge whether a requirement
that individuals buy health insurance is constitutional.

Swanson tells Pawlenty he could file his own friend-of-the-court
brief as governor to support the legal challenge.

In response to Swanson's decision, the governor's office issued a statement saying that Pawlenty will join other Republicans in fighting the law.

"Governor Pawlenty believes that the federal government is overreaching by subjecting citizens to a fine if they do not comply with a mandate to buy a good or service," the statement said. "Governor Pawlenty intends to participate in this litigation."